Over 100,000 Pounds of Invasive Fish Pulled from One River to Help Restore Native Ecosystem
Over 36,000 pounds of the invasive carp were pulled in 2025, the Kansas River's most successful year for removing invasive species
Moná Thomas
Tue, January 27, 2026 at 4:00 PM UTC
3 min read
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Kristen Peters/USFWS
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Kansas biologists have removed about 109,000 pounds of invasive carp from the Kansas River since 2022
2025 marked the most successful year, with more than 36,000 pounds taken out
Officials say removals are helping native fish recover while limiting the spread of nonnative carp
Kansas wildlife officials have removed more than 100,000 pounds of invasive Asian carp from the Kansas River over the past four years, marking a significant milestone in an ongoing effort to protect one of the state’s most important waterways.
According to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), biologists have pulled approximately 109,000 pounds of invasive carp from the river since organized removal efforts began in 2022. The agency capped off 2025, its most successful year to date, by removing 36,863 pounds of fish — the highest annual total so far for the removal effort.
USFWS
The campaign targets three invasive carp species currently present in Kansas waters: silver, bighead and black carp. According to the agency, the fish, originally imported from Asia in the 1970s for aquaculture, escaped into Midwestern waterways decades ago and have since spread rapidly. They are known for growing quickly, consuming massive amounts of food and crowding out native species that rely on the same resources.
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“These removal efforts appear to have produced positive effects in Kansas waterways and for native species,” said Liam Odell, an invasive carp biologist with KDWP, noting that biologists are beginning to observe population declines in targeted areas alongside the return of native fish.
Invasive carp pose both ecological and public safety risks. Silver carp, in particular, are infamous for leaping out of the water when startled by boat motors, sometimes striking boaters. Bighead carp can grow to extreme sizes, with individuals exceeding 100 pounds.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
To combat the spread, KDWP has relied on a mix of electrofishing, gill nets and newer specialized equipment. In recent years, the agency added an electrified dozer trawl designed specifically for carp removal, which stuns fish and collects them as boats move through infested waters.
In 2025, officials expanded removal efforts downstream, adding 15 miles of the Kansas River. The Bowersock Dam in Lawrence continues to serve as a barrier, preventing carp from spreading farther upstream.
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Kansas' efforts are part of a broader regional push. In August 2025, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced nearly $19 million in funding for invasive carp management across 18 states in the Mississippi River basin, including Kansas. The funds support large-scale removal, monitoring and prevention strategies aimed at slowing the species' spread.
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KDWP officials say removal will continue year-round and may expand further as research and funding allow. Odell also encouraged the public to help by never releasing invasive carp back into the water and by reporting sightings outside known infested rivers.
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